Fence-post.



PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903 J. W. OHILDRESS.

FENCE POST.-

APPLICATION FILED MAR. so. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Streamed UNITED STATES Patented November 24, 1903.

JOHN W. CHILDRESS, OF MINERALVVELLS, TEXAS.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,153, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed March 30, 1903.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. CHILDRESS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mineralwells, in the county of Palo Pinto and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in fence-posts, telegraph-poles, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide such a post in which pivoted wings or anchors are employed to prevent withdrawal or tilting of the post.

Another object is to improve the construction and method of pivoting said wings or anchors, so that the post may be easily driven into the ground and the strain upon the pivots of said anchors will be reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide means for preventing the post from sinking into the ground in wet weather. Still another object is to provide a post the construction of which will insure the necessary strength with the greatest saving of material, and consequent lightness in weight and cheapness of production.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a fence-post embodying the invention, showing in broken lines the extended position of theanchors- Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the lower end of the post on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar View on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing the anchors in their expanded positions. Fig. 6 is a detail View of one of the wings or anchors.

In the drawings, 1 denotesthe post, which may be of any suitable shape. In the present instance is shown a square or rectangular post. The body of the same above ground is cored out at intervals along its length, as at Serial No. 150,203. (No model.)

2, leaving only the rounded corners 3 of the postremaining,thusgiving sufficientstrength to this portion of the post and forminga post of extreme lightness. Between the cored-out portions 3 the post is left solid, and a solid headris left at the upper end of the post.

Staples or loops 4. are arranged on these solid.

portions to support the line-wires or rails of a fence. In the sides of the lower end of the post are formed depressions or cavities 5, and just below said cavities slots or openings 6 are formed through the post from both directions, the said slots intersecting each other at the center of the post. 7

7 denotes wings or anchors, the lower ends of which are adapted to be pivotally mounted in the slots 6 upon pins or bolts 8. The extreme lower ends of the wings are rabbeted or cut away on one side to adapt the end of the anchor on one side of the post to interlock with the end of the oppositely-pivoted anchor when the upper ends of the same are forced downwardly or outwardly. The innor side or edge of the anchors just above upon the pivot pins or bolts 8 when the post is driven into the ground. The lower walls of the cavities 5 are partially cut away to allow the upper portion of the anchors to fit closely into the cavities 5 when the same are folded up.

The sides of the anchors 7 are beveled outwardly to an edge, the shape of the same in cross-section being substantially triangular or V-shaped. The outwardly-beveled edges of the anchors facilitate the driving of the post by cutting their way into the ground, the lower end of the post being pointed to also facilitate the driving of the same.

The construction of the inner ends of the anchors and the manner of mounting the same is such that should a pivot pin or bolt break or rust out the anchor would still remain in place and the operation of the same would not be materially afiected.

At the base of the post and on alevel with ICO circular in form, through the center of which passes the base of the post. The said plate is adapted to have a rigid engagement with the post and by its position upon the surface of the ground prevents the post from sinking in Wet weather or from being tilted or inclined in any direction and maintains the same in a perpendicular position at all times. By constructing a post as herein described it will be seen that the uprooting or tilting of the same in any direction is prevented by the pivoted anchors, while the V shape given to the outer edges of the anchors permits the post to be easily driven into the ground.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a post, the upper portion of which is cored out at intervals along its length, and base of which is pointed, vertically-elongated cavities formed in the sides of said base, oppositely-disposed intersecting slots formed through said base below pivoted in said intersecting slots and cooperate' one with the other, the upper portions of the same lying in said cavities, and means for relieving the strain of said anchors upon their pivots when the post is driven into the ground, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a post, the upper portion of which is cored out at intervals along its length, and the base of which is pointed, vertically-elongated cavities formed in the sides of said base, oppositely-disposed intersecting slots formed through said base below said cavities, of laterally-swinging V- shaped pivoted anchors, the lower ends of which are pivoted in said intersecting slots and cooperate one with the other, the upper portions of the same lying in said cavities, the inner edges of said anchors being cut away adjacent to the lower walls of said cavities to form shoulders which rest upon said lower walls, whereby the said anchors are supported and strain upon the pivots of the same is relieved, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in'presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. CHILDRESS.

Witnesses:

L. E. SEAMAN, J. E. (humans. 

